I'ui, Ji,^ 



-f ,-r 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



REDMAN FARM. 



!rv 



1870. 

J^r^NTED BY -WILLIAM ^ENSE J^O. 8 PoNGF^ESS ^C^UARE, 

BOSTON 



A* i. A .Y 

Nuw,miii-(l .urpl III!' I-MmIi Ksljlc ,ii,il HiiljiTlTiiikiTS I.11I liv 
IIK.NKY I..I'IK.K(K KHO,. 




HISTORY 



OF THE 



REDMAN FARM, 



SO CALLED, 



And of the Title thereto, 

Situate in Canton, Norfolk County, 

Maffachtcjetts. 

NOW MOSTLY OWNED BY 

HENRY L. PIERCE, Esq. 



OF BOSTON. 


> 




C O M P 1 L R D B Y-- 


XgfWASHmgV 


• ^ L L 1 s -Ames. 






*-^ ft ^ 

1870. 






J'j^NTED BY WILLIAM ^ENSE, JSTo. 8 CoNC 


^I\ESS 


; ^quARE, 


BOSTON. 







HISTORY 



REDMAN FARM 



T:' Redman Fakm, so called, is situated near the Eastern 
bo idary of the territory that was formerly called the New Glrant, in 
the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Afterwards, on Dec'r 19, 
1715, that territory was incorporated into a new precinct or parish, 
and called Dorchester South Precinct. Afterwards that territory, 
except what, in 1724, was set oiF to Wrcntham, was, on 22d Dec'r, 
1726, incorporated into a new town by the name of Stoughtou ; and 
the farm is in the Easterly part of that portion of the old town of 
Stoughton that was set oflF and on Feb'y 23, 1797, incorporated into 
a new town by the name of Canton. 

This farm is, of course, a small fraction of the territory described 
in the Colonial and Provincial Charters of Massachusetts, granted by 
the Kings of England, the former in 1628, and the latter in 1691, 
but which latter arrived here and went into effect in May 1692. 

Dorchester, in 1636, extended Southerly only as far as the top of 
Blue Hill ; but by order of the General Court, on November 20, 
1637, it was extended to the bounds of the Colony of Plymouth; and 
thereby what is now Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, Foxborough and a 
large portion of Wrentham, Southerly to the line of Plymouth Colony, 
was granted to and made part of Dorchester. This was the addition 
called the New Grant. 

The Indians on the Neponset River having sold away all their 
lands there, and having proceeded to Punkapog and located. Rev. John 
Eliot, by letter dated 4th day, 4th month, 1657, applied to Major 
Atherton of Dorchester, to have that town make an order and re- 
cord it in their town records, to allow the Indians to reside at Pun- 



4' 

kapog, and make a town there, and that the town of Dorchester 
would appoint suitable men, who in due season should bound and lay 
out the land and make record of such laying out. 

At a town meeting in Dorchester, Dec. 7, 1657, it was voted that 
the town give a plantation to the Indians at Punkapog, and also that 
Hon. Major Atherton, Lieut. Clapp, Ensign Foster, and William 
Sumner be desired and empowered to lay out the Indian Plantation 
at Punkapog, not exceeding six thousand acres ; and that the Indians 
should not alienate or sell their plantation or any part of it. 

By a statute, both of the Colony and Province, all sales and con- 
veyances of lands procured by or from Indians to any person or per- 
sons since 1633, without the license of the General Court, were null 
and void and of no effect. 

This plantation was laid out according to the vote. From the 
plan thereof made by John Butcher, surveyor, in the year 1696, — it 
is described and bounded as follows, to wit: — 

Beginning at a point on the Northerly side of Punkapog Pond, 
about 25 rods Southwesterly of the point where the dividing line be- 
tween Canton and Randolph crosses the Pond, and thence running, 
what was in 1696, West eleven degrees North, 336 rods, bounding 
Northerly on land then of Capt. John Foster to the old road ; then 
continuing the same course 200 rods until you come to Punkapog 
Brook ; then continuing the same course 52 rods more, to the corner 
of land of John Holbrook ; and during said last named 252 rods, 
bounding Northerly on lot No. 5, which belonged to Daniel Preston, 
Samuel Paul, David Jones, and a Mr. Proctor ; then continuing the 
same course and bounding Northerly on land of John Holbrook, a 
distance of 47 rods, to a point within about 25 rods of Burnt Swamp, 
so called. This was the North side of the Punkapog Plantation, and 
was a straight line 635 rods, or about two miles long. 

From the last named point then turn and run South, 28 degrees 
West, as it was in 1696, one mile, one quarter and sixty-two 
rods, as follows, viz, 36 rods on lands of John Holbrook; 125 rods 
on lot No 6, belonging to Thomas Andrews ; and 301 rods on lot No. 
7, belonging to Richard Baker; then turning South 4^ degrees 
West 166 rods : thence South 34 degrees West 264 rods, to a point 
within about 48 rods of the stream on which stands the Stone Factory 
so called. This was the Westerly side of the Punkapog Plantation, 
and is about 2f miles in length. 

Then turning and running, by the course of 1696, South 44 J de- 



grees East 72 rods to the stream on which stands the Stone Factory ; 
thence up stream by the wasteway of the Stone Factory, the waste- 
way of the Revere Copper "Works, and the wasteway of the Iron 
Works of Oliver Ames & Sons to the point on Washington Street 
where the natural stream crosses said street or road; thence up 
stream to the point where Beaver Brook flowing from the Shovel 
Works of Oliver Ames & Sons originally met Pequit Brook flowing 
down from what is now the Reservoir Pond ; thence up stream up 
Pequit Brook, a distance of about 72 rods, and then East 20 degrees 
South, a distance of 800 rods to a point about 30 rods distant from 
the Range line between the 4th and 5th Ranges ; which line of 800 
rods, sometimes called the Dorchester line, crossed the road leading 
to Dorchester Swamp, (now in Stoughton,) now called Pleasant 
Street, and coincided some distance with one of the Southerly lines 
of what is now the Almshouse Farm of Canton, formerly owned and 
occupied by Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of 
Independence ; and which line of 800 rods was the Northerly bound 
of part of lot No. 3 i, belonging 175 years ago to widow Pelton, of 
lot No. 52 of 325 acres, belonging to Wm. Robinson and Samuel 
Robinson, and of lot No. 53, of 600 acres, belonging to Capt. Capen 
and John Capen, and of lot No. 54, of 73 acres, belonging to 
John Blake, and at its Easterly end was the Northerly head of the 
5th range. 

This was the Southerly side of the Punkapog Plantation, and 
measuring by a straight line from the Southwest corner to the Easterly 
corner the side overruns 3^ miles in length by about 15 rods. 

Then turning so as to make with the last named line an angle of 
about 82 degrees, it runs one mile and gths, crossing the York road 
a distance of about 50 rods ; then turning Westerly about a right an- 
gle with the last named line, runs one mile and 66 rods on the South- 
erly side of Capt. Clapp's Farm. At the end of about one quarter of 
a mile from the said last named turn you come into the road leading 
through the Farms, so called, and cross the road. At the end of 
said one mile and 66 rods you turn so as to make an angle of about 
115 degrees with the last line and then run one half a mile and ten 
rods to a station on the Northeasterly side of the road leading from 
the Farms to what is now Punkapog village, so called ; — then turn- 
ing 15 degrees more Easterly than the last named line and run 50 
rods, thence turning 33 degrees more Easterly of North than the last 
named line, and run 125 rods to the margin of Punkapog Pond, at a 



6 

point about 15 rods Southerly of the ancient and natural mouth of the 
brook leading through Punkapoag village ; and thence across the pond 
in a straight line, or by the shore of the pond, to the place of begin- 
ning. 

This Punkapoag line is delineated in the last County Map of Nor- 
folk County, published in the year 1858, by Smith & Bumstead. 



Charles Redman was the youngest son of Robert Redman, formerly 
of Dorchester, but who was a resident of Milton, at the date of his 
will, Dec. 30, 1678, which was probated January 31, 1679. 

Robert Redman was appointed administrator on the estate of his 
father, Charles Redman, June 14, 1725. 

The inventory of his estate bears date July 25, 1725. 

The appraisers were Robert Pelton, Thomas Jordan, and John 
Shepard, and his estate is therein represented as follows, viz : — 

£ S. d. 

" His cart and wheels and chains and plow, .... 3 2. 

and cattle £26, Is. and swine £.3, 29 1, 

and bedding and wearing cloths £12, and axes and 

tools 45 s 15 5. 

and household stuff £4, 6 s. 4 d. and a servant lad £5, 

and for horse kind £8 17 6. 4 



£64 14. 4" 
Which inventory was sworn to in Court, Aug. 30, 1725. 
Thankful Redman, the first white person born in Dorchester South 
Precinct, viz, in the year 1700, married George Blackman in 1728, 
and died in 1783, — she was a daughter of Charles Redman. 



In General Court, Friday, Dec. 27, 1723, Paul Dudley, Esq. of 
the Council, from the Committee on the affair of Puncapaug, made 
the following report, viz : — 

"Pursuant to an order of the General Court at their session in 
June last appointing a Committee to repair to Puncapaug to inquire 
into the Nature and Condition of the Lands there Leased by the In- 
dians to the English & to make Report of the Quantity and Quality 
of the Lands possessed by Each Person & under What Conditions & 



Regulations it may be proper for tbis Court to Confirm tbe respective 
Leases, Having Equal Regard to tbe Indian Rigbt & English Im- 
provements : Tbe said Committee bave been at Puncapaug and up- 
on their Inquiry find, 

P' That tbe tract of Land at Puncapaug Called by the name of 
the Indian Land, Altbo said to be Sis thousand Acres. Amounts to 
no more than five Thousand five hundred Acres, there being an An- 
cient Grant of five hundred Acres to one Fenno w'^.^ must be Sub- 
ducted out of it. 

2'^.'.^ There may be About fifteen hundred Acres of Unimproved 
rough land, Which is Unoccupied by the English & not Leased by the 
Indians. 

3"^'^ The other four thousand Acres ( more or less ) is What is or 
has been Leased by the Indians to the English & now under their 
Improvements, A schedule of tbe names of the Tenants of the quanti- 
ty of their Lands, the purchase money they gave for it, together with 
the Annual Rent or Quit Rent is hereunto Anexed. Upon the Whole, 
that which the Committee have agreed on as proper in their opinion 
to represent & report to this Honb''' Court is as follows : P' That 
the said leases be all of them made or Reduced to Ninety Nine Years 
from this time & for that Term of Years be Confirmed to the Tenants 
by this Court. 2*^'^ That the Quit Rent or Annuity, to be paid by 
the English to the Indians for their Lands, be one penny Per Acre 
per Annum & this to be Collected by & paid Unto Some proper Per- 
son or persons, Who shall be Appointed by the Court as Trustees for 
the Indians : The money from Time to Time to be Carefully applied 
for the use of the Indians. 

3**'-'' The English Tenants their Heirs or x\ssigns at the Expiration 
of the said Term of Ninety Nine Years to be Allowed the Renewing 
their Eespective Leases for Ninety Nine Years Longer upon the pay- 
ment of three pence per Acre as a fine for the Use of the Indians, 
Unless they should turn their Leases into Freeholds by taking Ab- 
solute Deeds of the Indians, Which they Shall be Allowed to do at 
any Time or Times hereafter upon paying to the Trustee or Trustees 
to the Indians, Twenty Years Rent of such Land as they Hold & En- 
joy by Vertue of Such Leases which Twenty Years Purchase Money 
shall also be Let out for the Annual Profits & Advantage of the In- 
dians by their Trustees. 
\ ^thiy That the Indians be confirmed in their Privilege of fishing 
( fowling and Hunting So as they Do no Damage to tbe English, & also 



of Such Apple Trees or Orcharding ( particularly Some Orcharding 
Claimed by Charles Redman in his Lease ) as they have Expressly 
Saved or excepted In their Leases. 

The Committee have also Anexed a memorial in Behalf of the 
English Tenants Which they have Rec^ Since their being at Punca- 
paug. 

Question, — Whether the meadows, Orchards & Old Fields & Clear 
Lands Hired of the Indians Should not pay a Greater Quit Eent than 
one penny per Acre, 

In Council Read & Ordered, that the first second & fourth Article 
of this Report be Accepted, And that Nath'. Hubbard & John Quincy 
Esq™ be Trustees for the Indians of Puncapaug : Sent Down for Con- 
currence — " 



In General Court, Friday Dec]" 4, 1724. 

A Petition of Joseph Tucker, Timothy Jones, Joseph Morse & 
Divers others the English Inhabitants of Puncapaug, Shewing that 
they Have held the Lands they now Dwell on by Leases from the In- 
dian Proprietors, W;^ the Indians are willing to Sell Absolutely to 
the Petitioners, as by the said Indians Petition to this Court may ap- 
pear, And therefore praying that the Court would give them Liberty 
to Purchase their Lands and Tenements they now dwell on of the 
said Indian Proprietors for such Valuable Consideration as was Re- 
ported by a Committee of this Court, or upon such qjther Terms as 
this Court shall Judge Reasonable. 

In Council Read & Ordered that the Petitioners ; viz, the English 
Tenants or Lessees at Puncapaug have Liberty, And they are hereby 
Allowed to Buy out the Reversion of such Lands as they have upon 
Lease, or turn their Estates into a fee simple, by good Deeds of Re- 
lease or Quit Claim from the Indian Proprietors of Puncapaug upon 
such Terms or upon Such Valuable Consideration, as a Committee to 
be appointed by this Court Shall judge Reasonable ; The Money 
raised by such Deeds of Confirmation to be received by the Commit- 
tee in Order to be Applied for the Use of the Indians of Punca- 
paug in such manner as this Court shall Order. 

Provided also that the said Committee approve the Respective 
Deeds of Confirmation from the Indians to the English and further, 



Ordered that Nath' Byfield & Paul Dudley Esq"".^ with such as the 
Honb' House of Representatives shall appoint be the Committee for 

the AiFair Aforesaid In the House of Representatives Read and 

Concur'* & Ordered that John Quincy & Jonathan Remington Es" & 
Mr. Ebenezer Stone be joined with the Committee for the Affair 
aforesaid. 

Consented to, W« DUMMER." 



(COPY.) 

ID E E ID. 

AMOS AHAUTON & OTHERS 

TO 

ROBERT REDMAN. 

This Indenture made the twenty second day of March in the 
twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace 
of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the 
Faith, &c. annoqu^ Domini one thousand seven hundred and twenty five. 
Between Amos Ahauton, Tho's Ahauton, Simon George, Hezekiah 
Squamoag, and George Hunter, all resident in Punkapoag, an Indian 
Plantation, within the township of Dorchester, in the County of Suffolk 
and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and the Na- 
tive or Indian Proprietors of the lands within the said Indian Planta- 
tion, in behalf of themselves and the other Indians that are, or may be 
interested therein on the one part, and Robert Redman, Son of 
Charles Redman, late of Punkapaug afore"^. (or Dorchester village as 
it is sometimes called) yeoman, deceased, and late one of the English 
tenants or lessees of the said Indian lands, on the other part, Witnesseth 
that the said Amos Ahauton, Thomas Ahauton, Simon George, Heze- 
kiah Squamoag, & George Hunter, (by and with the Allowance and ap- 
probation of the Honorable Nath'Byfield, Paul Dudly, Jonathan Rem- 
ington, John Quincy, and Ebenezer Stone Esqf (being a Committee ap- 
pointed and Impowered by the Great & General Court or Assembly of 
the Province aforesaid, at their session at Boston in the year of our 
Lord 1724,) Signified by Subscribing their names hereunto) for and 
2 



10 

In consideration of the sum of thirteen pounds sixteen shillings, in good 
bills of credit on the said province, well and truly paid by the said Robert 
Redman into the hands of the said Committee but in Trust to and for 
the only use and behoof of the Indian Proprietors aforesaid and to be 
accordingly employed for the benefit of the said Indian Proprietors 
pursuant to the Direction of the said Great & General Court Have 
given, granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents Do give, 
grant, bargain and sell, aliene release, confirm and quitclaim unto the 
said Robert Redman (in his possession now being) in behalf of him- 
self and the rest of the heirs of the said Charles Redman Dec^, a cer- 
tain tract or parcel of land situate in Punkapoag plantation in the Toiun- 
ship of Dorchester aforesaid, and contaming hy estimation about One hun- 
dred & twenty two Acres more or less — Reserving to the said Indian 
Proprietors the full privilege of their old Orchards upon any part of 
the premises as also five acres improved by the said Indians for plant- 
ing hounded upon the said pond which said land hereby granted is more 
particidarly described, Decypherd in a small plan or draught hereto an- 
nexed. Together with all and singular the Edifices, buildings, fences, 
profits, privileges, and (xppurtenances thereunto belonging or in any 
wise appertaining, and the reversion & reversions, remainder and re- 
mainders, rents, issues and profits thereof. 

To Have and to hold the above granted tract or parcel of land & 
premises with the appur'^^,^ unto the said Robert Redman and the other 
heirs of the said Charles Redman dec"^ their heirs and assigns forever, 
to their only sole and proper use, benefit, & behoof, from henceforth 
and forever more : Free and clear & clearly acquitted Exonerated and 
Discharged of and from all & all manner of incumbrances charges, 
rents, arrearages of rents Annual payments, or any other demand what- 
soever for or by reason of the same. And the said Amos Ahauton, 
Thomas Ahauton, Simon George, Hezekiah Squamoag, and George 
Hunter do for themselves, their heirs and successors covenant, promise, 
grant, and agree to and with the said Robert Redman for himself, and 
the said Charles Redman's heirs and assigns, by these presents, that by 
virtue of the Order of the Great and General Court or Assembly of 
the Province aforesaid, they have full power and authority to grant, 
bargain, sell, convey, release & Quitclaim the said land & premises uuto 
the said Charles Redman's Children, their heirs and assigns forever, in 
manner and form as aforesaid, and that they the said granters shall and 
will forever warrant and defend the same unto the said Robert Redman 
and the rest of the said Charles Redman's heirs against themselves 



11 

and their heirs and all other persons claiming from, by, or under 
them. 

Ix Witness Whereof the said parties to these presents have 
hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year 
first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered Sign. 

in presence of us AMOS J\_ AHAUTON. [seal.'] 

JOSEPH MORSE, THOMAS fr* AHAUTON. [seal.-] 

JAMES ENDICOTT. SIMON ^ GEORGE. [sea/.] 

Mem. Part of the land hereby 

sold belongs to Robert Red- HEZEKIAH 1-1 SQUAM0AG.[sert7.] 
man, by virtue of a purchase 

from Ebenezer Warren, as may GEORGE X HUNTER, [seal'] 
be seen by said Warren's deed 
or lease. 

Mem. Three pounds was for- 
merly paid. 

We, the abovcsaid Committee having 
received the above mentioned sum of 
thirteen pounds and sixteen shillings, for 
the use mentioned in the aforesaid deed, 
do allow and approve thereof. — Witness 
our hands this 22d day of March, 1725. 
N. BYFIELD. 
P. DUDLEY. 
JONA. REMINGTON. 
JOHN QUINCY. 
EBENEZER STONE. 
Suffolk ss. Boston, March 22, 1725. Amos Ahauton, Thom- 
as Ahauton, Simon George, Hezekiah Squamoag and George Hunter, 
all personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of His Majesty's 
Justices of the Peace for the County of Suifolk and acknowledge the 
above written instrument to be their free act and deed. 

P. DUDLEY. 
April 3. 1727. Rec'd & accordingly entered and Examined Pr 

JOHN BALANTINE, Reg'r. 

N B. — Ebenezer Warren died at his residence, in what is now Purikapog village, 
early in 1731. Mrs. Elizabeth Farrington and Mrs. Thankful Bright, his daughters, 
and his grandsons, Benjamin Wetherhy and Nath'l Wetherby, children of his de- 
ceased daughter, Sarah Wetherby of Dedham, sold his real estate to John McKendry 
in 1768. 



12 

Robert Redman, (the elder) son of Charles \Redman and who died 
Nov. 8. 1760, and -whose wido^vf Mary Redman is well remembered by 
Mr, Alexander Fisher of Canton, now (August 1, 1870, living in the 
90th year of his age,) had children as follows, viz : 

1. Robert, born who died in childhood, Oct 6, 1731. 

2. Sarah, born who died in childhood, March 19, 1725. 

3. John, born Sept. 20. 1730, who died unmarried, June 6, 1761. 

4. Robert, born who married Mary Dunbar, April 23, 1767 and 

died childless, his widow surviving him, in 1778. 

5. Sarah, born August 10, 1732, who married Jonathan Kinney, 
and died before the date of her father's will, leaving two children, who 
had pecuniary legacies and were excluded by the will from shares in 
the real estate. 

6. Martha Redman, born married Nehemiah Liscom, Oct. 9, 

1761, and she died childless so soon that Nehemiah Liscom married 
Rhoda Kinney, Sept. 10, 1763, and Martha's interest or estate in her 
father's lands descended to her mother and surviving brother Robert 
and sister s Jerusha and Mary unless she conveyed to Jerusha or Mary 
or both, her share under her father's will in the Redman farm, by an 
unrecorded deed. 

7. Jerusha, born Jan. 31, 1735, married Seth Billings, who died 
August 7, 1766, and their children were Jerusha Billings, born Aug. 
3, 1750, married Levi Taunt, Feb. 25, 1768. 

Seth Billings, born May 30, 1756, died Aug. 2, 1769. 

Robert Billings, born Dec. 29, 1759, married Olive Bussey, daughter 
of Col. Benjaman Bussey and sister of the late Benjaman Bussey Esq. 

Zeruiah Billings, born Aug. 15, 1762, married Sam'lGooch, Sept'r 
1, 1787, and died Aug. 31, 1801. 

Widow Jerusha Billings married Nathaniel Pitty, 1788. 

8. Mary Redman, born married Thomas Spurr, Jr., Aug. 15, 

1744, and had ten children. 

Zephaniah Spurr, born June 24, 1746 and died young. 

Redman Spurr, born Sept. 24, 1747, married Rebecca, widow of 
George Stone, July 27, 1772, and about the year 1800, moved to 
Columbus, New York. 

Jerusha Spurr, born Aug. 28, 1749. 

Thomas Spurr, born June 15, 1751. 

Lemuel Spurr, born Nov. 25, 1752. 

Samuel Spurr, born Nov. 12, 1754, married Olive Spurr, Oct. 10, 
1780. 



13 

John Spurr, born 1759, married Mercy Dunbar, (178;3.) 

daughter of Elijah Dunbar, Esq., and moved to Charlton, Worcester 
County. 

Sarah Spurr, born July 8, 1762. 

Maiha Spurr, born July 28, 1765. 

Zephaniah Spurr, born May 3, 1768, (truckman in Boston ) 

Thomas Spurr, Jr. the father, died in January or Febuary 1780, 
and Mary Spurr, his widow died a few days after him. 

Robert Redman died Nov. 9, 1760, — his Will, proved Dec. 19, 
1760 : — 

" In the name oe God, Amen. This 8th day of December, in the 
Thirty first year of his Majesty's Reign, A. D. 1757, I Robert Red- 
man, of Stoughton, in y^ County of Suffolk and Province of y*^ Massa- 
chusetts Bay in New England, Yeoman, being of perfect mind and 
memory, thanks be given to God therefor, and calling to mind y'' mor- 
tality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do 
make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, princi- 
pally and first of all I recommend my soul into y^ hands of God that 
gave it and my body to y^ Earth, to be buried in a Christian like and 
decent manner at y® discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned, 
nothing doubting but at y* General Resurrection I shall receive it 
again by y* mighty power of God ; and as touching my worldly Estate 
I give and dispose of y^ same in the following manner and form. Im- 
primis, my Will is that all my Just debts and Funeral Charges be paid 
out of my estate by my Executors hereafter mentioned. Item, T give to 
my dear beloved Wife Mary Redman, y* improvement of y* One half 
of my real estate during her widowhood and after my just debts and 
funeral charges are paid I give her all my Personal Estate, to be at 
her disposal. Item, I give to my son, John Redman, five shillings, to 
be paid him by my Executors hereafter mentioned out of my Estate at 
my decease. Ittm, I give to my son Robert Redman, y® one half of all 
my real Estate at my decease he doing and performing what is injoined 
him in this my last will and I also give him y® one half of my Pew in 
y^ Meeting House in the first Precinct in Stoughton and my Will is 
that the other half of said pew be and remain for y^ use of my family. 
Item, my will is that y^ half of my Real Estate which I have gave my 
Wife, y" improvement of during her widowhood should be disposed 
of in y^ following manner and form, viz, — First of all my will is that my 
Daughter Martha Redman, have six pounds thirteen shillings and four 



14 

pence out of said half and then my Will is that my son John Redman , 
have two fifths of y^ remainder if he behaves well and dutifully to his 
mother during her life, if not, I give to my Wife Mary Redman, to be 
disposed of as she shall think proper to either or any of my Children. 
Item. My Will is that y*' other three fifths of said half be divided be- 
tween my three Daughters, Mary Spurr, Jerusha Billings, and Martha 
Redman, each of them to have one fifth. Item, I give to my grandson 
Jonathan Kinney y*^ sum of six Pounds, thirteen shillings and four 
pence to be paid him by my son Rob't Redman, if my said Grrandson 
arrive to y^ age of twenty one years and not otherways. Item, I give 
to my grand Daughter Cloe Kinney, four pounds, to be paid her by 
my son Robert Redman, and also a good Cow if she arrive at the age 
of twenty one and not otherways. 

Item, I make, ordain and appoint my dearly beloved wife, Mary 
Redman, and my trusty and much respected friend Mr. Samuel Daven- 
port of Milton, to be y*" Executors of this my last Will and Testament, 
and utterly disallow, revoke and disannull all and every other former 
Testaments, Wills and legacies, Bequests and Executors, by me in any 
ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and 
confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In 
Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and 
year before written. 

Signed, sealed, published ROBERT REDMAN." [Seal.'] 

and declared by y^ said Rob- 
ert Redman, as his last will 
and testament, in presence 
of us, y^ subscribers, viz : 
John Billing. 
Geoi'ge Blackman. 
Samuel Blackman. 

Probated before Thomas Hutchinson, Judge of Probate, Boston, 
Dcc'r 19, 1760. 



Inventoky of Estate of Robert Redman. 

" 122 acres of land in the homestead, with the buildings 
thereon at £ 6 per acre. £ 732. 

16 acres of woodland on the Easterly end of Punkapog i 

Pond at 20 snillings per acre. £f 6. 

24 acres of woodland over said pond at 18 s. jier acre, 21. 12. 

One pew in the meeting house £ 13. 6. 8." 

The above real estate with considerable personal estate 
amounted to £865. 19. 10. 



15 

The executors of Robert Redman's will rendered their account in 
1771 in which they recite that they had sold £ 49 in value of real es- 
tate to pay debts. 

For the purpose of a history of the Redman Farm since the time 
when Robert Redman, sen'r died seized in 1760, we may divide the 
subject into four parts, viz : — 

First, of the Sprague part of it; of which the two Doctors Sprague, 
father and son died seized and which on the partition of the real estate 
of the latter was set off to his daughter, Mrs. Swett, and by her sold to 
John Tucker, and by him (except the triangular acre South Westerly 
of Stoughton turnpike, sold to his son Robert Tucker,) conveyed to his 
son the late Capt. Wm. Tucker. 

Second. — Of the Isaac Horton Estate. 

Third. — Of Mr. Alex'r Fisher's Pond Pasture. 

Fourth.— Of the Nath'l French estate. 

First, then, — Of the Sprague part of said farm : — 
1^' Samuel Davenport, and Mary Redman executors of the will of 
Robert Redman, pursuant to license of the August Term 1770, of the 
Superior Court of Judicature held at Boston, by deed dated Dec'r 
2, 1771, recorded Book 124, folio 176, in consideration of £ 40, con- 
veyed to Doct'r John Sprague "a certain piece of land lying in said 
Stoughton, containing fifteen acres, being a part of the real estate of 
the said Robert Redman, deceased, being bounded with the road lead- 
ing through Stoughton the breadth of one rod, or 26 links of Gunter's 
chain, and from thence the granted premises runs in said Sprague's 
line (keeping the aforesaid breadth of twenty five links) and running 
East, eleven and an half degrees North, according to the needle the 
distance of nine chains and seventy two links to a fence, at which 
place the Northerly line of said piece of one rod wide runs Northerly 
at right angles with said Sprague's line, so far as to complete the above 
quantity, and the Southerly line continues the same course above 
written the distance of twenty-five chains and ten links to a stake and 
stones ; and from thence the line runs East 43 degrees South until it 
comes to the bogs by Punkapog Pond, and from thence the line va- 
ries Easterly and Northerly, running between said bogs and the trees 
or swampy land, and must proceed so far Northerly as that a straight 
line running parallel with the first mentioned line and intersecting the 



16 

line above said that makes a right angle with Sprague's line, shall 
complete the full quantity of fifteen acres of land above granted." 

2nd. The will of John Redman, the other son of the first Robert 
Redman, probated Dec. 4, 1761, before Thomas Hutchinson, Judge 
of Probate, gave to his mother, "the Widow Mary Redman, all and 
singular the movables, cloathing and every thing of all sorts that is 
my estate at my decease, she paying my just debts and funeral charg- 
es, by her and her heirs to be possessed and forever enjoyed." 

Subscribing witnesses, 
John McKendry, Elijah Crane, John Kenny. 

Robert Redman 2nd. His agreement of division with his mother : 

3. This agreement made the twenty-third day of March, in the 
eighth year of his Majesties Reign Annoque Domini, one Thousand 
seven hundred and sixty eight, between Mary Redman of Stoughton, 
in the County of Suifolk and province of the Massachusetts Bay in 
New England, and the widow of Robert Redman of said Town and 
County, yeoman, deceased, of the one part, and her son Robert Redman 
of the same Town, County and Province "aforesaid, yeoman, of the 
other part, Witnesseth that the said Robert Redman, dec'd, by his last 
Will and testament gave to his widow the improvement of one half of 
his real estate, and the other half he gave to his son Robert as by said 
last will may appear, which said Real estate lying in Stoughton afore- 
said, containing about one hundred and eighteen acres more or less 
with the buildings thereon, is bounded Southerly with Punkapoag 
Brook, Easterly with Punkapoag Pond, Northerly with the lines of 
lands belonging to James Hawkes Lewis, Elihu Crane, Samuell^row- 
bridge and Elijah Crane, Westerly with the great road, and about 
sixteen acres of land, more or less, lying in Braintree near the afore- 
said pond, both of said parcels of land have hitherto lain in common 
and undivided between the said parties, it is therefore the intent of these 
presents that a perpetual division and partition of the above men- 
tioned premises and other real estate be made and established be-- 
tween them in the following manner, viz, that the said Mary Redman 
shall have the Northerly half part on which the dwelling house stands, 
and all the dwelling house and half the barn which is also on the same 
■half part of land hereafter described, (reserving to the said Robert 
Redman or his legal representatives those parts of the dwelling house 
that he now occupies without control, and convenient roorn about the 



17 

house for laying wood and passing to and fro from the same to the 
barn and road for the term of two years from the above said date,) the 
aforesaid Northerly half part contains about fifty nine acres of land 
and the dividing line begins at a stake and stone East of the road and 
twenty rods to the Northward of the aforesaid brook, and from thence 
runs East eleven degrees and a half North (according to the needle,) 
the distance of about one hundred and forty one rods to a stake and 
stone heap, and from thence running East forty three degrees and a 
half South until it comes to the above said Punkapoag pond. All that 
part of the premises that lies to the Northward or North Eastward of 
the above dividing line is in full of the said widow Mary Redman's 
half part of the said real estate herein proposed to be divided, and the 
said Robert Redman, his heirs and assigns, shall have the remaining 
half part that lies to the Southward or South westward of the above 
dividing line, containing fifty nine acres of land, more or less, together 
with the abovesaid sixteen acres of land lying in Braintree, and the re- 
maining half of the abovesaid barn in common with his mother, and 
convenient room about said half for cattle and for passing to and from 
the said barn with a cart or cattle at all times proper therefor, so long 
as said barn shall continue to be useful for preserving fodder and 
housing of cattle, but not to have any use of any of the lands for the 
aforesaid purposes after the said half part of the barn ceases to be use- 
ful as aforesaid ; all which is in full of the said Robert Redman's half 
part of the real estate herein proposed to be divided. — Now this 
Agreement Witnesseth for the confirmation of the aforesaid division, 
that we, the parties hereto, Mary Redman and Robert Redman, for our- 
selves, our heirs, Ex'ors, Adm'rs and assigns, do hereby Grant, as- 
sign, release, quit-claim, ratify and confirm, each unto the other, all 
the right, title and interest that we now have in or to the divided 
premises in which we are hereinbefore excluded, and do hereby cove- 
nant each with the other to warrant and defend each the other in the 
quiet possession of each of their parts and shares as above divided 
and set off to them against the lawful claims and demands of all per- 
sons whomsoever legally claiming any right, title or interest therein 
or thereto, from, by, or under us, hereafter forever. In witness where- 
of we, the said Mary Redman and Robert Redman, have hereunto set 
our hands and seals the day and year first above written : — Mary 
Redman her X mark and seal. Robert Redman and seal. Signed, 
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Joseph Aspinwall, John 
3 



18 

Billing. Suffolk ss. Stoughtoni August yM 9th, 1768. Tlie'n Ma- 
ry Redman and Robert Redman above named personally appeared 
and acknowledged the foregoing Instrument to be their free act and 
Deed. 

Before me, Elijah Dunbak, Just, of y'' Peace. 

September 15, 1768. Reel! and accordingly Entre'^ and Examined. 

Ezek^ Goldthwaitt, Reg'-" 

4. Robert Redman (his wife Mary joining,) by deed dated Sept. 25, 
1769, in consideration of £ 266. s 13. d 4, recorded in Suffolk Registry 
of Deeds, Book 115, folio 210, conveyed to John Sprague of Boston, 
physician, " a certain piece or parcel of land lying in Stoughton 
aforesaid, containing fifty nine acres, be it more or less, being bounded 
Southerly on Puukapog Brook, Easterly on Punkapog Pond, North- 
erly on land of the widow Mary Redman and Westerly on the Grreat 
Road, with the dwelling house, barn and fences thereon standing ; " 

Robert Redman's (2nd.) will, witnesses John McKendry, Seth 
Strobridge, John Kinney, probated July 17, 1778, not material, 
as he sold and conveyed all his real estate before his decease. 

5. Robert Billings, (his wife Olive joining,) he the son of Jerusha 
Redman, wife of Seth Billings, by deed dated March 31, 1789, recorded 
in Suffolk Registry, Book 164, folio 257, in consideration of £15, 
lawful money, conveyed to John Sprague, — 

" One messuage, or tract of land, situate in Stoughton, containing 
eight acres and an half exactly, butted and bounded as follows, viz : 
beginning at a stake marked in the swamp on Doct. John Sprague's 
Northerly line, four rods East of Punkapog Pond bank, so called, thence 
running Westerly, bounded on said Sprague's land, so far as that by 
turning at right angles with said line to complete said eight acres and 
an half, thence turning Northerly a straight line to Archibald McKen- 
dry's land, to a stake and stones, then turning Easterly, bounding on 
said McKendry's land to a stake in the swamp four rods East of the 
pond bank aforesaid, thence Southerly to the stake first mentioned." 

Note. We find no deed of conveyance to Robert Billings, but it was 
doubtless conveyed to him by his mother while the widow of Seth Bil- 
lings or shortly after she married Nath'l Pittee, by a deed never re- 
corded. 



19 

6. Nathaniel Pittee and Jerusha his wife, ( formerly the widow of 
Seth Billings,) by deed dated April 27, 1789, recorded in Suifolk Reg- 
istry, Book 166, folio 258 — 9, in consideration of thirty shillings, con- 
veyed to John Sprague of Boston, physician : — 

" One messuage, or tract of swamp land, situate, lying and being 
in Stoughton aforesaid, containing by estimation four acres, be the 
same more or less, butted and bounded as follows, viz : beginning at 
a stake at the Easterly corner of a lot lately purchased by said Sprague 
of Robert Billings, thence Easterly a straight line bounding on 
said Sprague's swamp, till it comes to a stake on Punkapog Pond 
bogs : thence turning Northerly to a stake on Archibald McKendry's 
swamp, thence turning Northerly to a stake on Archibald McKendry's 
swamp, thence Westerly bounding on said McKendry's swamp, till it 
comes to a stake at the Northeast corner of the lot that said Sprague 
bought of Robert Billings aforesaid, thence running Southerly, 
bounding on said Sprague to the bounds first mentioned." 

7. Inventory of ' the estate of Doct'r John Sprague, returned 1797. 
Among his lands in Canton were,— 

" 4 acres purchased of Nathaniel Pettee, 
59 acres purchased of Robert Redman, 
8 acres and 2 quarters purchased of Robert Billings, 



71 — 2, joining at $24. per acre. $ 1716." 

8. Partition of Doct. John Sprague's lands, confirmed in Probate 
Court, Januai'y 2, 1798 ; set ofi" to his son, Doct. John Sprague, — 

" also 4 acres of land purchased of Nath'l Pettee. 

59 acres with a house and barn thereon, pur- 
chased of Robert Redman. 

8 acres and one half purchased of Robert Billings. 

The three last mentioned pieces joining together, being 
71 acres & ^ we appraised at $24. per acre. $ 1716." 

9. The Inventory of the estate of the 2nd. Doct. John Sprague, re- 
tui'ned July 1, 1800, containing among other lands, — 

"71 acres, 2 quarters, called the Redman farm and lots 
adjoining, $24. per acre, $1716" 



20 

10. Partition of the lands of the 2nd. Doct. John Sprague, accept- 
ed in Probate Court, January 6, 1801, — 

"To Elizabeth Swett, set off share number 7," (there being 9 

heirs. ) 

acres, qrs. 

" Land purchased of Eobert Redman, 59, 0, 

Do. " of Sam'l Davenport and Mary Redman, 15, 0, 

Do. " of Robert Billings, 8, 2, 

Do. " of Nath'l Pettee, 4, 0, 



joining together in Canton, 86, 2, 

with an old house and barn thereon, by deeds by measure, 81 acres 
3 qrs. 36 rods. $ 1819" 

11. Samuel Swett and Elizabeth Swett, his wife, (a daughter of the 
2nd. Doct. John Sprague,) in her right, in consideration of $2000, 
by deed dated April 1, 1803, acknowledged May 27, 1803, recorded 
Oct. 3, 1809, Norfolk Records of Deeds, Lib. 35, folio 46 and 47, con- 
veyed to John Tucker : — 

" A certain tract or parcel of land situated and being in the town 
of Canton, in the County of Norfolk, called the Redman Farm, contain- 
ing by estimation about eighty six acres, and is butted and bounded as 
follows, viz: Westerly on the road leading from Boston to Taunton, 
Northerly on lands owned by heirs of Melatiah Gooch, Lemuel Whit- 
ing, Isaac Billings, heirs of Ezekiel Fisher and heirs of James Hawkes 
Lewis, till it strikes Punkapog pond, Easterly on said Punkapog Pond, 
Southerly on lands owned by Elijah Fenno, Jonathan Farrington and 
Punkapog brook till it comes to the sawmill dam, thence on land of 
said Jonathan Farrington and said Punkapog brook till it comes to 
Taunton road aforesaid, together with a small old house, barn, and on 
fourth part of the sawmill with all privileges and appurtenances thereto 
belonging ; containing as aforesaid by estimation about eighty six acres, 
be the same more or less, or however the same may be butted or 
bounded, which farm or tract of land aforesaid was set off to the said 
Elizabeth on a division among the heirs of her father John Sprague, 
late of Dedham, deceased, as will more fully appear in the book of 
the Registry of Probate for the County of Norfolk there recorded the 
sixth day of January one thousand eight hundred and one." 



21 

12. John Tucker by deed dated June 3, 1823, recorded Book 70, 
folio 9, conveyed to his son William Tucker in consideration of $4000. ; 

" A certain tract or parcel of land with a dwelling house, barn and 
out Buildings thereon, situated in Canton aforesaid, contains as esti- 
mated eighty acres, more or less, bounded as follows, viz: Northerly in 
part on the line of Isaac Horton's land as the fence now stands, and 
partly on the line of Alexander Fisher's land as the fence now stands, 
and partly on the line of land of heirs of the late James H. Lewis and 
over the bogs to Punkapoag pond ; Easterly on said pond extending so 
far Southerly as to strike Punkapog Brook, Southerly on said Brook 
leading from said pond to French and Tucker's Grist and Saw mill 
till it comes to the dam, and so on following the old brook till it comes 
to Stoughton turnpike road, thence turning and running Northerly in 
part on said turnpike road and partly on the old road till it strikes 
said Isaac Horton's corner." 

13 By deed dated Sept'r 10, 1869, recorded Lib. 384, folio 214, 
the three daughters and heirs of Capt. Wm. Tucker, viz ; Sarah F. 
McKendry, wife of J. Howard McKendry, Caroline T. McKendry, 
wife of William McKendry Jr, and Almira T.Wyman, wife of George 
H. Wyman, (the widow of Capt. Wm. Tucker, joining) in consideration 
of $18000. conveyed to Henry L. Pierce, besides some out lands. 

" The homestead farm of the late William Tucker, deceased, situ- 
ate in that part of said Canton called Punkapog and bounded Easter- 
ly by the Punkapog Pond; Southerly by the Punkapong Brook; West- 
erly by the highway, which was formerly the Stoughton turnpike and 
Northerly by land of the heirs of the late Isaac Horton, deceased, and 
land of Alexander Fisher, till it comes to a corner of the lands of 
Isaac Horton, lands of Nathaniel French, lands of Alexander Fisher, 
and of the granted premises ; thence running Easterly along a wall on 
the line of Alexander Fisher's land, thirteen chains to a slight angle in 
the wall ; thence by said wall in part, and in part by the remains of an 
old fence, and for the residue of the distance without either wall or 
fence, South 85° East, twenty five chains and ninety two links, all the 
way on the line of land of Alexander Fisher, to a stake in the Gerald 
Ditch, so called, which is a corner of land of Alexander Fisher, of 
Mrs Rebecca Hanscom, wife of Thomas Hanscom and of the granted 
premises; thence by the centre of the said Gerald Ditch, S. 2:^^ W. 
to the Punkapoag Pond." 



22 

John Tucker, in consideration of $100. by deed dated May 20, 
1822, recorded Lib. 66, folio 258, conveyed to his son, Robert Tucker, — 

" A certain piece or lot of land, situated in said Canton, contains, 
as estimated, one acre, be the same more or less, and is bounded in 
manner following, that is to say, Northwesterly on Taunton road, so 
called, Easterly on Stoughton Turnpike road, and Southwesterly on 
Punkapog Brook, till it comes to Taunton road aforesaid ; 

And this same land now granted and sold was heretofore a part of 
my homestead farm, but was intersected and cut off therefrom by 
building the aforesaid Stoughton Turnpike road." 



How Jerusha, ( one of the three surviving daughters named in the 
will of her father, Eobert Redman the elder, thereby taking one fifth 
of one half of all his real estate, after the death of her mother.) the 
wife of Seth Billings, and who after Billings' death married Nathaniel 
Pittee, came to own not only the four acres she sold to Dr. Sprague, 
27 April, 1789, and the eight and a half acres she must have con- 
veyed to her son, Robert Billings, who sold the same to Dr. Sprague, 
March 31, 1789, but also the homestead estate of the late Isaac Hor- 
ton, we cannot fully explain by record, but conveyances of all the 
same under her have ever since been acquiesced in without contro- 
versy. 

Second. — Of the estate of the late Isaac Horton : — 

1. Nath'l Pittee and Jerusha Pettee, wife of said Nath'l, for £ 5 
lawful money, conveyed unto her daughter, Zeruiah Grooch, wife of 
Samuel Gooch, by deed dated April 10, 1795, recorded in Norfolk 
Registry of Deeds, Lib. 5, folio 184, — 

" A certain spot of land for a house lot, lying in said Stoughton, 
and bounded as follows, viz : being on the Southeasterly side of 
the Country Road leading from Boston to Taunton, and is bounded 
on said road, beginning on said road at Doct. Sprague's corner, 
thence running as the fence now stands on said road Northwesterly 
two rods and eight feet, thence an Easterly course a straight line four 
rods and eight feet to a stake and stones, bounding Northwesterly on 
land of said Nathaniel and Jerusha. Thence turning and running a 
straight line, Southerly two rods and eight feet, striking the fence of 
said Doct'r Sprague's at his land, thence Westerly as the fence now 
stands till it comes to the bounds first mentioned. — And also, 
we, the said Nathaniel and Jerusha, do by these presents grants sell, 



23 

convey and confirm unto her, the said Zeruiah Gooch, her heirs and 
assigns forever, the privilege and indulgence of going to and from 
the well, that we, the said Nath'l and Jerusha do now improve, in 
order that water may be had therefrom for the use of said Zeruiah 
and heirs as aforesaid, and the said Zeruiah and heirs are laid under 
the injunction of pursuing the nearest course possible from the house 
now building on the above described spot of land to the path leading 
from the before mentioned road to said Nath'l and Jerusha's house and 
so on in their path to said well and at all times to return in the like 
manner." 

2. Samuel Gooch and Zeruiah Gooch, his wife, mortgage, by deed 
dated 29 April, 1795, recorded in Norfolk Registry, Lib. 3, folio 247, 
to Ezekiel Fisher : — 

" A certain tract or lot of land, being in Stoaighton, in the County 
of Norfolk, a quarter of an a<?re, be the same more or less, bounded 
as follows : Westerly on the Country road leading from Taunton to 
Boston, and being two rods and eight feet on said road, then turning 
Easterly with a straight line four rods and eight feet, then turning 
Southerly with a square corner two rods and eight feet to the land of 
Dr. John Sprague, then running Westerly on said Sprague's land till 
it comes to the road first mentioned with a house thereon standing. 
Provided, Nevertheless, if the said Samuel Gooch or Zeruiah Gooch, 
their heirs, executors, or administrators, pay to the said Ezekiel 
Fisher, his heirs, executors, or administrators, or assigns, the sum of 
ten pounds, lawful money, of said Massachusetts, on or before the first 
day of May, which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
seven hundred and ninety-sis, then this Deed, also a note of hand 
bearing even date with these presents, given by the said Samuel and 
Zeruiah Gooch to the said Ezekiel Fisher, conditioned to pay the 
same sum and interest at the time aforesaid, then both to be void and 
of no effect, otherwise shall remain in full force." 

3. " Knoav all Men by these Presents That I, Samuel Gooch, 
together with Zeruiah Gooch, my wife, who is deceased, did, on the 
twenty-ninth day of April, A. D., 1795, make and execute unto Eze- 
kiel Fisher of Canton, a Mortgage Deed of a small piece of land and 
house thereon, and whereas, by reason of sickness, together with the 
expense of a large family, no part of said mortgage is paid, the prin- 
cipal thereof being originally thirty-three dollars and one-third of a 



24 

dollar, which is now due with Int. thereon, and whereas said Ezekiel 
Fisher has assigned and transferred this same mortgage over to Lem'l 
Whiting of said Canton, Gent., this same mortgage contains about 
one fourth of an acre of land with a small house thereon, being in 
Canton aforesaid, particulars thereof may appear by said mortgage. 

Now I, the said Sam'l Gooch, do hereby give unto said Ezekiel 
Fisher, full possession of said premises, mortgaged as aforesaid, he 
to occupy, possess, improve and enjoy the same by virtue of said 
mortgage, free from molestation, disturbance or hindrance of any 
kind, made or offered by said Samuel. In witness whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal this 31st August, A. D,, 1801. 

Attest, Joseph Bemis, SAMUEL GOOCH, [Seal."] 

Nathan Cbane. 

4. In the year 1807 partition was made of the real estate of Eze- 
kiel Fisher who died in 1802, and among the lots of land of which 
appraisal was first made preliminary to the partition, was, — 

" About one-fourth of an acre of land lying in said Canton, with an 
old, small building thereon, bounded Westerly on Taunton road, and 
every other way conformable to the description of these same prem- 
ises as mentioned in a mortgage deed, made and executed unto the 
said deceased by Samuel Gooch and Zeruiah Gooch, his wife, refer- 
ence to said deed being had, — and said deceased became legally pos- 
sessed of the aforesaid premises, by virtue of said mortgage." 

The commissioners to make partition, assigned the whole of said 
real estate to Alexander Fisher, one of the nine heirs, said heirs and 
the guardians of those who were minors assenting thereto, said Alex'r 
paying the eight others money to the value of their shares. 

5. Alexander Fisher, by deed dated 23 Feb., 1809, recorded Book 
33, folio 125, conveyed to Lemuel Whiting: — 

" All my right, title and interest, which I now have, or ever 
heretofore had, in and to a certain small piece of land, lying in said 
Canton, containing about one-fourth of an acre, more or less, with a 
small building thereon, improved by said Whiting, as a Retailer's 
Shop, a particular description of the aforesaid premises may appear 
by a mortgage deed, made and executed by Sam'l Gooch and Zeri- 



25 

diah Grooch, his wife, unto the late Ezekiel Fisher of said Canton, 
dec'd, the same bearing date the twenty-ninth day of April, A. D. 
1795, and is recorded with the Register of Deeds for Norfolk County, 
Lib. 3, Folio 247. And possession of said premises was given unto 
the said Ezekiel Fisher, dec'd, as aforesaid, by the said Samuel 
Grooch, as per instrument under his hand and seal, bearing date the 
31 day of August, A. D., 1801, will appear. And these same prem- 
ises being appraised as the estate of the said Ezekiel Fisher, dec'd, 
as aforesaid, and were assigned to me the said Alexander, being one 
of the heirs of said deceaseds Estate, as per appraisement and divi- 
sion of said deceased's Estate, presented to Probate for Norfolk 
County, and accepted March 3, 1807, will appear." 

6. Natli"l Pittee and Jerusha his wife, " in her right," (£26, 10s,) 
by deed dated 3 March, 1794, recorded Lib. 5, folio 237, convey 
to Samuel Canterbury, 

" a certain piece of land lying in said Stoughton, containing four 
acres and one-quarter by measure, bounding Northeasterly on Doctor 
John Sprague's land next to Punkepoge Pond, Northwesterly on 
Capt. Isaac Billings' land. Southeasterly on the said Doctor John 
Sprague's land, and to extend so far from the Northeasterly end, (viz,) 
from the end next to the pond, down towards said Pittee's, house as 
to make up the same four acres and a quarter, being eight of Cunters' 
chains and eighty six links long on the line of said Isaac Billing's 
land, and eight of Gunter's chains and eighty six links long on the 
Southerly side." 

7 Samuel Canterbury, $130, by deed dated 4th August, 1807, re- 
corded Book 29, folio 48, conveyed to Lemuel Whiting : 

" A certain piece or parcel, laying and being in Canton, containing 
four acres and one quarter by measure, bounded as follows, viz : 
Northeasterly on land of Capt. John Tucker, Northwesterly on land 
of Copt. Isaac Billing, Southeasterly on said Lemuel Whiting's land. 
Southeasterly on land of said John Tucker, or however otherways 
bounded or reputed to be bounded, subject to the incumbrance of a 
mortgage held by Oliver Downs of the same premises, conditioned 
to pay the sum of fifty dollars." 
4 



26 

8. Nathaniel Pettee and Jerusha Pettee, his wife, in consideration of 
$475. by deed dated 29 Oct- 1800, recorded Lib. 21, folio 82, con- 
veyed to Lemuel Whiting : — 

" A certain piece of upland, with a small house thereon, and a 
shelter to keep one cow from the weather, lying in Canton, containing 
by estimation four acres and thirty-seven rods, be the same more or 
less, and is bounded as follows, viz : — Southerly, on land of the heirs 
of Dr. John Sprague, Easterly on land of Samuel Canterbury, South- 
erly on land of Capt. Isaac Billing, and Westerly on the highway 
and on land of Samuel Grooch, or however otherwise bounded." 

9. Lemuel Whiting, for $900. by deed dated June 30, 1812, re- 
corded Book 41, folio 247, conveyed to Isaac Horton : — 

" A certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in Canton 
aforesaid, with all the buildings standing thereon, and these same 
premises contain eight acres, two quarters and nine rods, be the same 
more or less, and is bounded as follows, viz : beginning at a corner 
at land of Capt. John Tucker, on Taunton road, thence running a 
Northeasterly and Northwesterly course as the fence now stands, 
bounding Southerly and Northerly all the way on lands of said John 
Tucker, till it comes to a corner of Alexander Fisher's land, thence 
bounding Northeasterly on said Fisher's land till it comes to the grant- 
or's own land, thence running a Southwesterly course, as the fence 
now stands, till it comes to said Taunton road, bounding all the way 
on the grantor's land which he bought of Capt. Isaac Billings, till it 
comes to said Taunton road, thence running Southerly on said Taunton 
road till it strikes said Tucker's corner first mentioned, or however 
otherwise bounded or reputed to be bounded, they being the same 
premises which I bought at three several purchases, viz : in part of 
Nathaniel Pettee and Jerusha his wife, in part of Samuel Canterbury 
and partly of Alexander Fisher." 

10. Wm. Horton, Isaac Horton, Elisha Horton and Mary H. Tucker, 
widow, heirs of the late Isaac Horton, by deed dated November 1, 
1869, and recorded Lib. 386, folio 161, in consideration of $3400. 
conveyed to Henry L. Pierce : 

" A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situate in 
Canton aforesaid, containing eight acres and forty two rods, more or 



27 

less, and bounded, beginning at a corner on the Taunton road, by a 
corner of land of the grantee, and running thence North 79 1-4 ^ , 
East thirty eight rods and fourteen links, thence North II 1-2 '^ 
West, eight rods ; thence North 79 3-4 ^ East fifty eight rods and 
twelve links, thence North 7 ^, West nineteen rods and twelve links 
to land of Nathaniel French — all said courses by the land of the 
grantee, thence South 78J '-' West, 38 rods and 11 links, thence 
South 59 1-4^, West, ten rods and four links, thence South, 
47 °, West, thirteen rods and seventeen links, thence South, 
52 3-4^, West, fourteen rods and twenty links, thence South, 50 
1-4 ^, West, seven rods and fifteen links, thence South, 33 3-4 ®, 
West, one rod and twenty-one links, thence South, 72 1-2 °, West, 
fifteen rods and eleven links to Taunton road — all said courses by 
land of Nathaniel French : thence Southerly on Taunton road three 
rods and fifteen links to the point of beginning — being the same 
parcel of land conveyed by Lemuel Whiting to Isaac Horton,by deed 
dated June 30, 1812, and recorded with Norfolk Deeds, Lib. 41, folio 
247 ; said estate descended to us, the grantors, as heirs at law of the 
said Isaac Horton, named in the said deed, now deceased." 



How Mary Redman, the wife of Thomas Spurr, jr., one of the three 
surviving daughters named in the will of her father, the elder Eobert 
Redman, thereby taking one-fifth of one half of his real estate, after 
the death of her mother, who survived her several years, came to own 
Alexander Fisher's Pond Pasture and the Nathaniel French estate, we 
cannot now fully explain by record — but it was inventoried under 
oath as her estate. 

(1.) The Inventory of the estate of Mary Spurr, widow, returned 
March 17, 1780. 

" To piece of land containing 22 acres with part of a house thereon 
£1200." appraised by JAMES ENDICOTT. 
WM. WHEELER. 
NATH'L FISHER. 

Redman Spurr her eldest surviving son was the administrator on 
her estate. 



28 

Then again see Probate Records, Boston, Vol. 82, folio 353, the 
real estate of said Mary Redman, was appraised for settlement pur- 
suant to warrant of the Judge of Probate directed to 

JAMES HAWKES LEWIS. 
ADAM BLACKMAN. 
NATH'L FISHER. 

and they find it to be " mowing, orcharding, pasture and swamp, not 
capable of division,'' and that the value of it is £6. si 5. cZ8. silver 
money, per acre and containing 21 acres, and all appraised at the sum 
of £142. s9. lawful money. 

( N. B. By laioful money is meant $3,385 ^^ a jjound.) 

(2.) Redman Spurr, the eldest son of widow Mary Spurr, was 
entitled, by the statutes of descent then in force, to a double portion 
— and though the estate was returned incapable of division, there is 
no record showing that it was all set off to him, nor are there upon 
record deeds or any deed to him of their shares from his brothers and 
sisters or either of them — but conveyances of the whole through 
Redman Spurr have been ever since acquiesced in without contro- 
versy. — And in the deed of Archibald MeKendry to Isaac Billings, 
dated April 11, 1789, recorded Norfolk Records of Deeds, Book 33, 
folio 49 and 50, of the Nath'l French estate, is this recital, " it being 
a part of the land I bought of Redman Spurr some time since " ; and 
in the deed of the Easterly portion of the Pond Pasture by said 
MeKendry to Ezekiel Fisher, dated April 2, 1790, and proved and 
recorded July 6, 1870, said Redman Spurr, is a subscribing wit- 
ness. 

( 3.) There must have been a deed by Redman Spurr to Archibald 
MeKendry who died in the year 1806, of Fisher's Pond Pasture 
and of the Nath'l French estate, but no such deed was recorded in 
Suffolk County Records of Deeds, nor in Norfolk County Records of 
Deeds ; and John and William, sons of Archibald MeKendry, have 
searched but cannot find the original deed. — 

Third. Of Fisher's Pond Pasture. 

( 4.) Archibald MeKendry by deed dated June 26, 1788, recorded 



29 

Book 10, folio 82, for £28, sl2 and cM, conveyed to Ezekiel Fish- 
er, Jr. : — 

"A certain tract or parcel of land lying in said Stoughton, con- 
taining eight acres and twenty-nine rods of land, by measure, bound- 
ing Southerly on land that belongs to the widow Jerusha Billings or 
her son Robert Billings, Northerly on land of Seth Strobridge's, 
Easterly and Westerly on the remainder of the said McKendry's land, 
also said Fisher is to have a leading way, road or lane provided 
by said McKendry, from the Westerly end of the above granted land, 
next to land that belongs unto the heirs of Elijah Crane, deceased, to 
the Country road, so as to drive a team with a cart and other neces- 
sary uses, to pass and repass to and from the same, said Fisher his heirs 
and assigns, to shut proper gates and put up bars proper for securing 
the land, and said McKendry to make and maintain suitable gates or 
bars for the same, also said McKendry reserves a right for himself, his 
heirs and assigns, to pass and repass acrost the above described land 
sold by him to said Fisher, unto his land at the Easterly end of the 
same, by a leading way, or to pass or repass with a team, he to shut 
gates or put up bars necessary to secure the land, which gates and 
bars are to be provided by said Fisher ; also said McKendry is to dig a 
suitable Ditch acrost his land at the Easterly end of the above grant- 
ed piece of land, so that the water may run to the Eastermost point 
of the above granted land ; and said Fisher is to have free liberty to 
turn the water that runs in a Ditch between Mr. Lewis' and said 
McKendry's land in said Ditch, so as to bring the water into the 
Eastermost point of said Fisher s land to water his cattle, &c. in the 
best manner he can, all which bounds of the same land may more fully 
appear by a plan of the same granted land drawn by Abner Crane, 
which is hereunto annexed.' ' 

(5.) Archibald McKendry, by deed dated April 2, 1790, wit- 
nessed by Redman Spurr, and proved in Probate Court and recorded 
July 6, 1870, conveyed to Ezekiel Fisher, Jr., " a certain piece of 
land lying in said Stoughton, containing by estimation six acres, be 
the same more or less, bounded as followeth, viz : Beginning at the 
Northeast corner of said Ezekiel Fisher's land, he lately bought of 
said McKendry before, and running Easterly, bounding Northerly 
on Seth Strowbridge's land, then running Northerly bounding on said 
Strowbridge's land on the Pond Bank, so called, until it comes to 
land of James Hawkes Lewis ; then running Easterly on an old ditch 



30 

to a crotclied tree and bounding on said Lewis' land, still on Easterly 
to a stake and bounding on the Pond Bogs, then running Westerly 
bounding on Doct. John Sprague's land until it comes to said Fisher's 
land, then it bounds Westerly on said Fisher's land till it comes to 
the bounds first mentioned — to be computed as the fence and bounds 
now stand — being all said McKendry's land Easterly of said 
Fisher's." 

( 6.) In 1807 partition was made as before stated of Ezekiel Fish- 
er's real estate among his heirs, and the whole set to his son, Alexander 
Fisher, and among the lots set out in the return on the warrant was : — 

" The Pond pasture so called, containing 14 acres, qrs., 29 rods, 
was purchased by 'd deceased of Archibald McKendry, at two sepa- 
rate purchases, is wounded Northerly on lands of heirs of James H. 
Lewis, deceased, Westerly on lands of Seth Strobridge, Southeasterly on 
lands of John Tucker, and Easterly on lands of said James H. Lewis." 

( 7. ) Alexander Fisher, by deed dated 20th June, 1870, recorded 
Sept. 8th, 1870, in consideration of $700. conveyed to Henry L. Pierce 
" a certain tract of land, situate in Canton aforesaid, being a part of 
the Redman farm, anciently so called, and supposed to contain four- 
teen acres and twenty-nine rods, sometimes called the Pond Pasture, 
and bounded Easterly by land of said Henry L. Pierce, purchased by 
him of the heirs of the late Capt. William Tucker, Southerly in part 
by the homestead of Nathaniel French and in part by land of said 
Pierce, purchased by him of the heirs of the late Isaac Horton, North- 
erly by the Puffer Ditch, sometimes called the Gerald Ditch, where 
the bogs or boggy part of the com^eyed premises is supposed to come 
to, or terminate in an angle, where one long stake deep in ground 
and pointed at the bottom, old at the top apparently and new as in 
the bog, is in the Westerly bank of the said Puffer Ditch, and anoth- 
er stake is near by in the middle of the ditch ; Northerly by the bog 
or cranberry meadow of Mrs. Rebecca Hanscom, and by the Northerly 
boundary line as described as the Northerly boundary lines in two 
deeds from Archibald McKendry to my father Ezekiel Fisher ; the 
first of which deeds is dated June 26, 1788, and recorded in the 
Norfolk Registry of deeds, Lib. 10, folio 82 ; the second of which deeds 
is dated April 2, 1790, and as yet is unrecorded — meaning to convey 
hereby the same premises conveyed by said McKendry to my father 
by the aforesaid deeds, and the bogs thereto belonging and nothing 
more ; referrino; to said deeds." 



31 

Fourthly. Of the Nath'l French estate, of which, with Mr. Fisher's 
Pond Pasture, Mary Spurr, widow, died seized in 1780, and which all 
became the property of Ptedman Spurr, who conveyed to Archibald 
McKendry. 

( 1.) Archibald McKendry, by deed dated April 11, 1789, record- 
ed Book 33, folio 49 and 50, conveyed to Isaac Billings : — 

" A certain tract of land, being in said Stoughton, and contains by 
estimation ten acres, be the same more or less, bounded as follows, 
viz : beginning at a .stake at the North side of the bars on the Country 
road leading from Boston to Taunton, thence running Northeasterly 
a straight line and bounding on Jerusha Petty's land, till it comes to 
a stake at the edge of the bank by the old ; i, thence running 
Southeasterly to a stake near the old well, thence "Northerly into the 
front door and through the middle of the chimney of the old house to 
a stake at the Northerly side of said house, thence Northeasterly 
bounding on said Jerusha Petty's land till it comes to a stake at the 
corner of land that I lately sold to Ezekiel Fisher, Jr., thence North- 
westerly, as the fence now stands, till it comes to Seth Strobridge's 
land, thence a Westerly course bounding on land of Seth Strobridge 
and the widow Sarah Crane till it come to the Country road, thence 
Southeasterly on the country road till it comes to the bounds first 
mentioned, together with the Westerly end of the old house standing 
on the same, — it being a part of the land I bought of Redman Spurr, 
some time since, — reserving for myself and Ezekiel Fisher, Jr., our 
heirs and assigns, a bridle or leading way to drive cattle and to go 
with a team and cart from the Country road through the afore granted 
premises, on the Northerly side of the same, till entrance is obtained 
in Ezekiel Fisher Jr's land, and to return at all times as occasion 
may require ; the aforenamed Isaac Billings to furnish and procure at 
his own cost bars or gates that may be needful to secure the premises, 
especially on the pass-way reserved, and the said McKendry and 
others, entitled to the pass-way by the above reserve are to put up 
bars and shut gates at all times when the said pass-way is made use of.'' 

(2.) Isaac Billings, by deed dated April 6, 1810, for $-350., re- 
corded Book 34, folio 257, conveyed to Lemuel Whiting : — 

" A certain lot or parcel of land lying and being in Canton afore- 
said, containing by estimation .ten acres, be the same more or less, 
bounded as follows, viz : beginning at a stake on Taunton road, 
at the corner of land recently sold by said Lemuel Whiting to x\mos 



32 

Upham Jr., and John Tucker Jr., thence running Northeasterly a 
varying line and on the line of land of said Tucker and Upham till it 
comes to Alexander Fisher's pasture, thence running Northwesterly 
about twenty rods and on the line of land of said Alexander, as the 
fence now stands, till it strikes the land of Seth Strobridge, thence 
turning and running a Southwesterly course as the fence now stands, 
bounding Northwesterly in part on lands of Seth Strobridge, as also on 
lands of Sarah Crane, till it comes to said Taunton road, thence 
Southeasterly on said Taunton road to the bounds first mentioned, 
reserving however, for use of the heirs of the late Ezekiel Fisher and 
their assigns, a privilege of passing and repassing at all times, to and 
from the pasture of said Alexander, they at all times putting up bars, 
shutting gates, &c. Also reserving for use of Samuel Canterbury and 
his heirs, a certain dwelling ] juse standing on said premises, sold as 
aforesaid, which house is not to be considered as sold to said Whi- 
ting, but is reserved for said Canterbury, he, the said Canterbury and 
Whiting to make such bargains as they please respecting saiu aouse." 

(3.) Lemuel Whiting, by deed dated Nov. 27, 1813, recorded 
Nov. 28, 1813, Liber 45, folio 98, conveyed to Nathaniel French, 2d., 
in consideration of $1100 : — 

"A certain lot orpacel of land, lying and being in Cantpn aforesaid, 
containing by estimation, ten acres, more or less, and is bounded as fol- 
lows, viz : b3giQning at a stake on Taunton road, at the corner of 
land recently sold to Isaac Horton, thence running Northeasterly a 
varying line and on the line of land of said Horton, till it comes to 
Alexander Fisher's pasture, thence running Northwesterly about 
twenty rods and on the line of land of said Alexander, as the fence 
now stands, till it strikes the land of Seth Strobridge : thence turning 
and running a Southwesterly course, as the fence now stands, bound- 
ing Northwesterly in part on lauds of said Seth Strobridge, as aLo on 
lands of Sarah Crane, till it comes to said Taunton road, — thencx. 
Southeasterly on said Taunton road to the bounds first mentioned. — 
Reserving forever for use of heirs of the late Ezekiel Fisher, de- 
ceased, and their heirs and assigns, a privilege of passing and repas- 
sing at all times to and from the pasture of said Alexander, they at 
all times putting up bars and shutting gates which they may have oc- 
casion to pass, &c. — iVnd also is included in said sale a dwelling 
house standing on said premises, as also all other buildings thereon 
standing." 



